Onlewo: Singapore-Inspired Design for Gifts, Homes and Spaces
A Design Journey Rooted in Singapore’s Soul
Founded in 2015 by Singaporean designer Mike Tay, Onlewo is a Singapore design brand that transforms the stories, heritage and everyday life of Singapore into contemporary patterns and thoughtfully designed products.
The name Onlewo (安乐窝) evokes the idea of a peaceful, happy nest — a place of comfort and belonging. This philosophy extends beyond the physical home to the memories, emotions and connections that make a place meaningful.
What began with a curiosity about storytelling through prints has grown into a diverse collection spanning home décor, textiles, fashion accessories and Singapore-inspired gifts. From wallpaper, curtain and upholstery fabrics, and cement tiles to cushions, porcelain ware, scarves and lifestyle accessories, Onlewo brings a distinctive sense of place to everyday living.
Each design begins with observation. Singapore’s architecture, neighbourhoods, cultural traditions, flora, familiar objects and everyday scenes become the starting points for original patterns and colour stories. Through a contemporary design language, the familiar is reinterpreted with fresh perspective, allowing local stories to find a place in modern homes, personal expression and shared experiences.
Singapore Stories, Thoughtfully Designed
At the heart of Onlewo is the belief that design can connect people with places and memories. A pattern can recall a neighbourhood, a colour can evoke a familiar scene, and an everyday object can become a conversation starter.
Rather than simply reproducing traditional motifs, Onlewo draws on the character of Singapore and reimagines it for contemporary living. The result is a distinctive design language that balances cultural references, considered colour combinations and practical functionality.
Onlewo’s collections are created for people who appreciate meaningful design, from visitors seeking distinctive Singapore souvenirs and thoughtful gifts to bring home, to those looking for memorable gifts for overseas friends, corporate gifts with a local identity, or original products that bring personality to a home.
Designed for Homes, Gifts and Interior Projects
Onlewo brings its Singapore-inspired design language across several product categories.
Home Décor and Lifestyle
Cushion covers, porcelain accessories and other home accents introduce colour, character and stories into everyday spaces.
Fabrics and Wallcoverings
Wallpaper, curtain fabrics and upholstery fabrics offer designers and architects distinctive patterns for residential, hospitality, commercial and other interior projects.
Cement Tiles
Singapore-inspired patterns translate into architectural surfaces that bring a sense of place and individuality to interiors.
Scarves and Wearable Accessories
Scarves, shawls, neckerchiefs and other accessories make Singapore-inspired design part of personal style, as well as thoughtful gifts for different occasions.
Singapore-Inspired Gifts
From glass and fabric coasters to carefully presented lifestyle pieces, Onlewo offers distinctive gifts for housewarmings, birthdays, corporate occasions, visiting guests and friends living overseas.
Across these categories, the common thread is a coherent design sensibility: original Singapore-inspired stories expressed through pattern, colour and thoughtful product design.
Working with Designers, Architects and Businesses
Beyond its retail collections, Onlewo develops design products for interior designers, architects, businesses and organisations seeking original patterns with a strong sense of place.
Its range of wallpaper, curtain fabrics, upholstery fabrics, cement tiles and home accessories provides opportunities to bring Singapore-inspired design into residential, hospitality and commercial environments.
Onlewo also works with businesses and institutions on Singapore-inspired corporate gifts, accessories and customised design applications. These collaborations can translate a client's identity, occasion or brief into products that are distinctive, useful and meaningful.
Over the years, Onlewo has worked with international names including Patek Philippe, Moët Hennessy, Cartier, Bvlgari, Shell and BlackRock, alongside Singapore organisations including GIC, SGX, SingHealth and UOB.
These collaborations reflect the versatility of Onlewo's design language across gifting, lifestyle products and design-led applications.
An Independent Singapore Design Brand
Founded by Mike Tay, Onlewo is shaped by an independent, observational approach to design. The work draws inspiration from the life around us rather than the pursuit of passing trends.
For Onlewo, Singapore is not merely a theme or a collection of familiar icons. It is an ongoing source of stories, colours, details and cultural connections waiting to be noticed and reinterpreted.
Through products designed for living, gifting and specifying in interior projects, Onlewo continues to explore how local stories can travel — from Singapore into homes, spaces and lives around the world.
Onlewo — Singapore stories, thoughtfully designed.
Visit Onlewo
We welcome you to visit our boutique at OUE Downtown Gallery:
6A Shenton Way
Unit 01-11
Singapore 068815
Opening Hours
Monday–Friday: 11am–7pm
Saturday: 11am–4pm
For further enquiries, please contact us via WhatsApp or email.
In the Press
Onlewo’s Singapore-inspired designs and founder, Mike Tay, have been featured in local and international publications, including Monocle, Louis Vuitton City Guide, Wallpaper City Guide, The Forecast, CNA, Singapore Tatler Homes, The Straits Times, Home & Decor, The Business Times, A-List and The Peak.
In 2016, Mike Tay, founder and surface designer of Onlewo, was named among the Top 50 Most Influential Singapore Designers by Singapore Tatler Homes.
These features reflect an ongoing design journey shaped by Singapore’s heritage, culture and everyday life — reinterpreted through original patterns, thoughtful colour and contemporary design.
Today, Onlewo continues to tell Singapore’s stories through products for homes, interiors, personal style and meaningful gifting.
Our latest feature in CNA Lifestyle, and others The Business Times, The Washington Post, Time Out Singapore, The Straits Times, 联合早报, ANZA, Singapore Home & Decor.
